Ontario

Toronto is a very progressive, culturally diverse city that hosts people from all over the world. A burgeoning food scene, modern architecture, museums, and friendly people, exploration of this city seems endless.

See & Do

• Old Toronto. District bounded by the original city limits, contains major Downtown attractions. Shopping hubs include the huge Eaton Centre mall and St. Lawrence food market, while the dining scene ranges from casual Kensington Market eateries to hip, upscale restaurants.
• CN Tower. Landmark, over 553-metre tower featuring a glass floor & a revolving eatery with panoramic views.
• Casa Loma. Grand castle built by a rich guy that offers tours. This was hands down my favorite attraction in Toronto. The story is fascinating and shown on screen from a converted pool in the basement. Several feature films have been shot here. There is an underground tunnel connecting another building on the grounds and if you go in October, is decorated for Halloween. There are hidden passageways, rooms, and a variety of easter eggs to discover.
• The Annex. Next to the university featuring eateries, indie bookshops, bars and cafes.
• Roundhouse Park. Part of the railway museum, the park offers restored train equipment & miniature steam train rides.
• Harbourfront Centre. Lakeside cultural hub with dance, modern art, craft & theatre spaces, plus many annual events. Also features Toronto Music Garden.
• Queen & King Streets. Notable streets with shops and restaurants.
• Bata Shoe Museum. The 4,500-year history of footwear is explored through hundreds of shoes such as specialty clogs.
• Koreatown. Korean shops and restaurants.
• Royal Ontario Museum. Natural history & world cultures galleries, plus dinosaur fossil skeletons.
• Kensington. Bohemian neighborhood, market.
• Art Gallery of Ontario. Large gallery with huge Canadian collection, European masterworks & a major Frank Gehry renovation.
• Little Canada. Small scale model replica.
• Distillery District. Pedestrian-only Distillery District, set in quaint 19th century buildings that once housed a large whiskey distillery, draws crowds to its cobblestone streets lined with hip indie restaurants, bars and boutiques. Christmas market takes place in December.
• High Park. Sprawling park with hiking trails, a zoo, sports fields & a large children’s playground.
• Aga Khan Museum. Museum noted for its bright white, contemporary architecture & exhibits tracing Islamic culture.
• Cliffcrest. Beach bluff and coves.

Food & Drink

• Stakt Market. Artsy, industrial-chic complex with trendy shops & eclectic eats & drinks, plus live entertainment.
• Waterworks Food Hall. Eateries next to the city park.
• Impact Kitchen. Tasty healthy cafe.
• Planta. Internationally inspired plant-based dishes.
• David’s Tea. Well known tea establishment in Canada.

Casa Loma Toronto Skyline

Casa Loma

Royal Ontario Museum

Art Gallery of Ontario

I visited here on a work trip and got to explore the capitol city over a couple days. I was impressed by the beauty of the city, quality of the food, and interesting museums available. Having known nothing about this city before visiting, I was pleasantly surprised. Just across the bridge is Quebec where you will immediately hear people speaking French.

See & Do

• River. Makes for a great walk on a nice day.
• Parliament. Where the magic happens. Nice views from the top.
• Museum of Civilization. Canadian history.